Cartridge-shell.



Patented June 2, i900.

T. H. RYLANDS.

CARTRIDGE SHELL.

(Application filed Dec. 2a, 1859.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES NrrED TATES THOMAS II. RYLANDS, OF llRIDGEIOR'l,CONNlMJ'llCU'l, ASSIGJOR TO THE UNION B'IE TALLIC CARTRIDGE (:fOllIlANY,OF SAME PLACE.

CARTRIDGE-SHELL.

srncrncnnon formingpart qgLette rs late'nt ne 65.1, 559, time June 12,1900.

Application filed December 28,1899. Serial No. 741,781. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnonns lI. RrLANDs,

a citizen of the- United States, residing at specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a cartridge-shell that may bemade very cheaply, that will fit a gun chambered for black -powdercartridges, but which when loaded with smokeless, so called, or nitrated powder maybe handled and used with perfect safety.

It is of course well understood by those familiar with the ai-t, first,that all of the smokeless powders are ver much less bulky than theordinary black powders, and, second, that in all guns adapted to receiveblaekqaowden cartridges the base of the bore-that is, the portion whichreceives the powder-chamber of the cartridgehas a diameter not less thanthe diameter of the bullet and frequently has a diameter greater thanthe diameter of the bullet.

In loading shells with black powder the charge of powder frequentlyfills the shell nearly full and the bullet is crowded down upon it withsuliicient force to compress the powder, the powder thus forming abacking for the bullet, so that it cannot be forcedfarther into theshell, and, furthermore, even if the bullet should be forced fartherinto a shell loaded with black powder no harm would be done, owing tothe relative slowness with which the gases are formed when combustion ofthe powder takes place. If, however, these same shells are loaded withsmokeless powder, thepowder-chambers of the shells are not more thanone-fourth to one-half filled with powder. It is furthermore absolutelynecessary in using smokeless powder, owing to the relative quicknesswithwhich the gases are formed when combustion of the powder takesplace, that there should not be the slightest compression orcondensation of the powder, it being as a matter of fact consideredunsafe to compress smokeless powderin the shells to the slightestextent, as it is quite probable that smokeless powder it compressed in acartridge-shell will burst the gun when fired. It. has furthermorebcemlemonstrated that in transporting and handling ordinary cartridgesloaded with smokeless powder, and especially in rapid firing in action,there is dange o the bullets being forced farther into the shells andalso of a cartridge becoming jammed in the gun owing to the excitomentof rapid loading in action. It is therefore extremely desirable thatcartridge-shellsbe provided which may be loaded with either a large or asmall charge of black powder or with smokeless powdcrand which whenloadcd with smokeless powder shall be absolutely safe undcrall'thoordinary and extraordinary conditions of use, even during the excitementof rapid tiring in action, and which, moreovcr, will enable the shellswhen used in prac tice tiring or in trenches or on shipboard to hisreloaded. By that I mean to provide a cartridge that shall be perfectlysafe if it can be put in a gun and il rendered unsafe shall be renderedso in such a manner that it cannot be put into a gun, and thus can do noharm.

With the above conditions in view I have invented and produced acartridge-shell pro vided with an abrupt internal sholilder which formsa positive seat for the base of the bullet. I am, of course, aware thatit is and long has been common to make grooves in cartridge-shells, someof which are pressed into the bullets and some of which are at thebaseof the bullets; but none of these grooves, however, have amounted toan abrupt shoulder or, could possibly be made to serve as a positivestep for the bullet, for the reason that the end of th bullet, underpressure, is liable to act r-i 1 he inclined or beveled side of thegroove to force said wall outward, and, moreover, should the bullet beforced past any of-the grooves heretofore madcin shells the exteriorconfiguration of the cartridge would not be changed to such an extent asto prevent it from being put in a gun. This grave danger of the bulletbeing d rivcn inward upon the powder when subjected to the extraordinaryconditions of use has been the cause of serious inconvenience andexpense, as it has prevented the use of smokeless-powder cartridges inguns chambered for black-powder cartridges.

My invention, therefore, in brief 2o pressure to the bullet to drive itinward and has for its Object to-do away with this uncer',

tainty' and dangerand to provide a cartridge-- shell that may be loadedwith either a large or a small charge of black or smokeless powder andwill be perfectly safe whenloaded with either powdernnder the mostextraordinany:

conditions of use, for the reason that the but let cannot bedriveni'nward to anyapprecia'ble extent unless an amountof. power isapplied suflieient to crush "the shell longitudipally, in which eventits external contour -Lwill be changed to such an extent that it canofthe shell being broken away to show the manner in which the bullet isseated upon the I shoulder; and Fig. 2 isaviewillustrating the effectupon :1 cartridge of applying suflicient showing how the externalcontour of the shell is changed, thereby making it impossible to insertthe cartridge in a gun. A denotes a cartridge-shell; B, a bullet, and

C 'an abrupt shoulder extending inward from the wall of the shell andconsisting of two thicknesses of metal in contact with each other andfdrming a positive step for the hutlet to abut against, said stopprojecting inward substantially at a right angle to the longitudinalcenterof the shell. The special manner in which this shoulder is madeisnot of the essence of my invention. In practice ,I have found it asimple and inexpehsive way to make this shoulder to roll a depressioninto the shell and then to closethe sides of the depression .upon eachother, thus forming within the shell an absolutely-rigidshoulderconsisting of two plies of the metal of the shell.

Having thus described my invention 'I claim-- p 1. A cartridge-shellhaving on its inner periphery an abrupt annular shoulder consist- 4 ingof two thicknesses of metal in contact with each other and formiug'apositive step against. inward .movementofi the bullet;-

2. A cartridge-shell having on its inner'pe- I 'riphery an abruptannular shoulder-consist in'g oftwowlies or thicknesses of the metal" ofthe shell in contact with each other; for the v purpose specified.

In testimony whereof. I aflix my signature I in presence oftwo-witnesses. THOMAS H. BYLANDS." .1

Witnesses:'- v

' G HILPERCY,

